Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops celebrates 30 years of 'Fun by the Forkful'

by jmaloni

Press release

Tue, Jun 18th 2013 07:00 am

Taste of Buffalo

Join
the birthday celebration and bring your appetite to sample Western
New York's favorite foods July 13-14

The
Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops Markets, celebrates its 30th
birthday this summer and everyone is invited to the two-day culinary
event. Expect a birthday party like no other, complete with delicious
cupcakes, cookies, chocolate and ice cream, as well as a large
smorgasbord of the region's most scrumptious culinary delights,
including barbecue, seafood, Asian and vegetarian, which have become
favorites of the country's largest annual two-day food festival.

The
summer event, which attracts approximately 450,000 hungry folks
annually, returns Saturday, July
13, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, July 14, from 11 a.m. to 7
p.m. along Delaware Avenue and Niagara Square in downtown
Buffalo. This year's Taste features 51 restaurants, three food
trucks and seven wineries, as well as a culinary stage, musical
entertainment, and plenty of special offerings from a host of
national and local sponsors.

"The
Taste is the pinnacle of the summer festival season in Western New
York, and we are extremely excited to mark this birthday by offering
a 'taste' of the region's top restaurants," said Joe Lane,
2013 Taste chairman. "It's going to be a birthday celebration
along Delaware Avenue and Niagara Square all weekend long, and we
invite everyone to enjoy all that the Taste has to offer."

Stop
by the "Birthday Cake Oreo Photo Spot" inside Niagara Square and
take your picture popping out of Taste's oversized cake, and enjoy
complimentary birthday cupcakes from Tops Bakery, and birthday cake
Oreos beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, while supplies last.
On Sunday at 3:30 p.m., in front of the Tops Stage in Niagara Square,
join the birthday party finale. Take part in a city-wide birthday
sing-a-along and catch The Future Dance Center dancers. There'll be
more Tops Bakery cupcakes, birthday cake Oreos, plus Scharffen Berger
Chocolate Maker chocolate and samples of a special Charlap's
birthday flavor ice cream, "Taste the Party," while supplies
last.

Throughout
the weekend, sample the diverse array of more than 200 food items
from restaurants across the Queen City and surrounding Western New
York communities. No single food item is more than $4, making it
affordable to try a large sampling of items individually or for the
entire family. This year, 11 restaurants are participating in their
first Taste. They include: Gordon Beirsch, Go Veggies Café, Jewel of
India, Joe's Crab Shack, Indian Falls Log Cabin, Merge, Miller's
Steak and Crab House, Nette's Fried Chicken, Niagara Seafood Inc.,
RTR Breakfast Unlimited and Riverstone Grill. Buffalo's food trucks
will also be a part of the event for the second straight summer with
the new Black Market food truck joining the list.

For
the seventh year, all participating restaurants are required to offer
a healthy menu item as part of the Taste and Independent Health
Foundation's "Healthy Options" program. These items are lower
in fat, cholesterol and sodium. The Taste was the first food festival
in the country to introduce a healthy requirement.

Wine
enthusiasts can enjoy a variety of vintages and sample Scharffen
Berger chocolates at Hazlitt Vineyards, Knapp Winery and Glenora Wine
Cellars, and The Winery at Marjim Manor. Merritt Estate Winery,
Niagara Landing Wine Cellars and Spring Lake Winery are also
returning. New this year, two beer tent locations will include a
winery, making it easy to relax with a glass of wine and beer in one
location. In addition to Labatt beer offerings, Flying Bison will
also be available.

Presale
food ticket vouchers, available in $10 certificates, can be purchased
right at the register at participating Tops Markets June 16 through
July 14. For food enthusiasts interested in plotting out their visit
this year, the Taste's festival guide, which contains valuable
coupons, recipes and a complete listing of food offerings at the
event, will be available at all Erie County and Niagara County Tops
locations the week before the Taste.

"Tops
has been a proud supporter of the Taste of Buffalo since its first
year along Main Street in 1984, and we're excited to be the
presenting sponsor for its 30th birthday celebration,"
said Frank Curci, Tops Markets' president and CEO. "The Taste is a
great event that brings people from throughout the community together
in the heart of downtown Buffalo to sample the best foods and
restaurants our region has to offer."

Stop
by the Tops tent to enjoy marinated top sirloin boneless choice beef
over fresh greens or on a Baker's Oven roll, or Tops' own recipe
fresh chicken sausage sandwich topped with peppers and onions. And
back by popular demand is Tops' signature strawberry shortcake.

Spin
the wheel for a chance to win great prizes each day. One hundred
percent of donation proceeds will benefit Make-A-Wish. The Tops
Pharmacy and natural/organic tent inside Niagara Square will offer
free samples of products available at Tops.

At
the culinary stage on Saturday at 1:15 p.m. and Sunday at noon, Tops
butchers will demonstrate how to prepare mouthwatering top sirloin
beef marinated with mountain berry and raspberry chipotle seasoning
(the same as will be offered in the Tops Markets tent).

The
Taste's culinary stage, sponsored by Artisan Kitchens & Bath,
is located in the New Era Cap parking lot and features the best in
local culinary talent. This area is an intimate venue for getting up
close and personal with the finest chefs in Buffalo as you watch
their cooking demos and the Nickel City Chef competitions. Seating is
free and is first-come, first-served.

Don't
miss regionally produced goodness and enjoy samples of Scharffen
Berger Chocolate Maker chocolate and delicious treats from Tops
before each show, while they last. Register to win one of two Big
Green Egg Mini's grills. Grab a pom pom on your way in and root for
your favorite firefighter in this year's Smokin' Hot Firehouse
Cook-Off presented by Buffalo Spree and sponsored by Jack Daniel's
Sauces and New Era Cap on Saturday at 5 p.m.

A
variety of national and local sponsors will offer samples,
demonstrations and interactive activities throughout the two-day
event, including:

•For
the third year in a row, guests can text a vote for their favorite
Taste item as part of AT&T's Fan Favorite Food Award. Item
numbers and texting information will be listed in the Taste's
festival guide and on signage posted at every restaurant or guests
can text VOTE to 567890 to receive instructions. Guests can also
tweet a message, send a pic via Twitter or Instagram and use
#tasteofbuffalo to see it in real time. Or text a message to 345345
to see it on one of the big screens. And, new this year, visit an
AT&T tent and take the pledge to never text and drive and
experience the simulator, #itcanwait. To stay connected on the latest
events and promotions happening during this year's Taste, guests
can text "TASTE" to 567890 to have Taste of Buffalo info alerts
sent to their phone. (Data, phone and messaging rates apply.)

•Northtown
Platinum Plus members get special privileges from Northtown
Automotive at the Taste. Guests can show their Platinum Plus key tag
to receive exclusive, members-only perks, refreshments and giveaways,
and get a seat under the Northtown Automotive tent inside Niagara
Square.

•The
Taste of Fun KidZone presented by Rolly Pollies returns to Niagara
Square. Enjoy an energetic and fun obstacle course that will test
your child's balance, agility, hand-eye coordination and more. Kids
and their parents are also invited to participate in fitness
activities and a community-wide art project, too.

•Limited-edition
Taste caps and T-shirts will be available at the New Era Cap flagship
store on Delaware and at its satellite location inside Niagara
Square. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Tops 5k Run/Walk for
Roswell Park.

•Visit
the Kwik Fill booth to enter the Kwik Fill Free Ride Sweepstakes. You
could win one of 10 grand prizes, including a 2014 Mustang GT. Spin
the Kwik Fill prize wheel, too.

•Stop
by the Popsicle Pop-up Party to enjoy free samples and join in on the
family fun. This summer, Popsicle is hitting the road to host
Popsicle Pop-up Parties in cities across America - offering
family-fun summer activities, free Popsicle pops and more.

•Come
by and shake hands with the Buffalo Police. Sit in a police car, meet
safety officers and see their segways.

In
addition to the food and special attractions, Taste boasts non-stop
local music courtesy of acts Boys of Summer, the Buffalo Music Hall
of Fame Revue, All Start Project, Win Lose or Draw Reunion Band,
Terry Buchwald and more, presented on The AT&T Stage at Delaware
Avenue and Huron Street, and the Tops Stage at the south side of
Niagara Square. Just voted Buffalo's favorite DJ, Spooky Business
will spin tunes next to the Genesee Street beer tent location all
weekend.

"I
am proud to salute the Taste of Buffalo as it celebrates 30 years of
providing great food and charitable support to the City of Buffalo
and Western New York," said Mayor Byron Brown. "Since 1984, the
Taste has grown into one of the many great outdoor festivals in our
city, drawing thousands of residents and visitors to downtown Buffalo
each year, while enhancing the quality of life that adds to the great
progress that's underway in our city."

The
Taste is a not-for-profit organization with more than 1,000
volunteers helping to put on the annual event. More than $250,000 has
been raised at the festival for local charities, including Compass
House, Hospice, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Meals on Wheels of
Western New York and National Kidney Foundation. In addition, five
$1,000 scholarships are awarded annually to local high school seniors
pursuing a culinary or hospitality-related degree.

For
a complete schedule of special attractions, listing of food
offerings, the music lineup and other Taste-related information,
visit www.tasteofbuffalo.com.
Don't forget to check out the Taste's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/tasteofbuffalo
for information and giveaways leading up to the 30th
birthday celebration.

The
Taste of Buffalo presented by Tops is the nation's largest two-day
food festival, attracting more than 450,000 people to downtown
Buffalo. Festival hours are Saturday, July 13, from 11 a.m. until 9
p.m., and Sunday, July 14, from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. There is no
admission fee, food prices range from $2 to $4, and tickets are sold
in $5 increments. Cash, MasterCard and Visa are accepted at the
event. For more information, visit www.tasteofbuffalo.com
or www.facebook.com/tasteofbuffalo.